Spading-machine.



D. M. ROBINSON.

SFADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-4, ms.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I Inventor Witnesses Pa/1122b;

Attorneys D. M. ROBINSON.

SPADING MACHINE.

APPLlCATION FILED 0Ec.4, 1916.

1,238,341 PatentedAug. 28, 1917.

Witnesses ventor I I Attorney s DAVID M. ROBINSON, OF GREENVILLE, TEXAS.

SPADING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2 1917.

Application filed December 4, 1916. Serial No. 134,937.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID M. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Hunt and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Spading-hlachine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for spading or forking soil for agricultural purposes, one of the objects of the invention being to provide a machine which can be propolled by any mechanism desired and which has soil engaging devices mounted in a novel manner whereby, as the machine is moved forwardly, said devices will be forced downwardly into the soil and then lifted upwardly so as to lift or break the soil, the action being similar to that produced by the use of an ordinary spade.

A further object is to provide operating mechanism of simple, compact and efficient construction for producing the desired movement of the soil engaging elements.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, showing the soil engaging element in its initial position and, by dotted lines, in an intermediate position during the forward movement thereof through the soil.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the soil engaging element at the forward limit of its movement and, in dotted lines, at an intermediate point during its return movement, the relative positions indicated being those which would be assumed should the machine be stationary during the operation of the spading mechanism.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a portion of the frame of the structure, the same being supported by wheels a portion of one of which has been indicated at 2. This structure may be propelled in any manner desired and is provided with an axle 3 which may receive motion from the supporting wheels. Mounted on the aXle 3 is a hanger 4 adapted to swing freely, this hanger being preferably bent at its center to form an obtuse angle. Journaled upon the hanger at the angle portion thereof is a shaft 5 to which is secured an eccentric (S and a gear 7. The gear 7 meshes with and is adapted to receive motion from a gear 8 which is mounted on the axle 3, said gear 7 being free to travel partly around the gear 8 during the oscillation of the hanger 4.

Mounted on the eccentric 6 is a strap 9 carrying a stem 10 from which projects a soil engaging element 11 which can be in the form of a spade, fork or the like. The lower end of the hanger 4 is connected by a link 12 to the strap 9. Said strap 9 is also pivotally connected as at 13 to a bar 1 1 the forward end of which is pivotally attached as at 15 to one end of a bell crank lever 16. This bell crank lever is provided with any-suitable means, such as a toothed segment 17 and a dog 18, for holding it against movement relative to the frame 1, it being understood that by unlocking the lever and shifting it angularly, the pivot 15 can be raised or lowered whereby to adjust the relative positions of the parts supported by the hanger.

By providing mechanism such as described it will be understood that when the gear 8 is rotated motion will be transmitted therefrom to the gear 7 and, consequently, the eccentric 6 will be rotated about the shaft 5. This will cause the strap '9 to shift relative to the shaft 5 and, to a limited extent, upon the eccentric 6. The amount of movement of the strap relative to the eccentric is controlled by the bar 14 which is adapted to swing upwardly and downwardly about its pivot 15, and by the link 12 which connects the strap to the hanger 4. During the rotation of the eccentric in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 the soil engaging element will start from the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 1 and then move abruptly downwardly along a curved line to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. As the rotation of the eccentric continues, the soil engaging element will move forwardly to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 and then, as the eccentric returns to its initial position on the completion of one rotation, the soil engaging element will be elevated and ultimately brought back to its initial position. See Fig. 2. The relative positions of the soil engaging device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are merely those which wouldbe reached should the machine remain stationary during the rotation of the gears. Obviously if the machine is moving forward the soil engaging element WOlllCllJG brought to the surface-not at its point of starting but at another point corresponding to the point of starting but in advance thereof.

It has been found that byproviding spading or forking mechanism such as described, the soil will be thoroughly broken up. Furthermore, the mechanism is advantageous because of its compact and durable construction, the parts being so simple as not to get out of order easily.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. A machine of the class described including a hanger mounted for swinging movement, an eccentric supported thereby, means for positively rotating the eccentric, a strap mounted. upon the eccentric, a bar pivotally mounted and pivotally connected to the strap, a link connection between the hanger and the strap and a soil engaging element fixedly connected to the strap.

2. In a machine of the class described, a

hanger mounted for swinging movement, an eccentric supported thereby, means for positively rotating the eccentric, a strap mounted upon the eccentric, a bar pivotally mounted and pivotally connected to the strap, a link connection between the hanger and the strap, a soil engaging element iiX- edly connected to the strap, and means for raising and lowering the bar to adjust the movement of the soil engaging element.

3. In a machine of the class described the combination witha hanger, an eccentric journaled thereon, and a strap supported and actuated by the eccentric, of a soil engaging element fixedly connected to the strap, and means operated by the rotation of the eccentric for shifting the strap and hanger to impart an abrupt downward movement to the soil engagingelement, a gradual upward movement, and a return movement to a point above and out of en gagement with the soil.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto-affixed my signaturein the presence-of two witnesses.

' DAVID M. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

T. A. SMITH,

SAM D. STINsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained'for five cents each, by addressing the CommissionercfPatenta Washington, D. (1.. 

